A brief review on Chapter “Beyond the Conflict in Ukraine: Towards a New Security Architecture” by Dr. Andrey Kortunov[1]
Alexandra Matas,
Director, International Security Dialogue Department, GCSP
Sir,
In his article, Andrey Kortunov offers a sober assessment of the current security situation in Europe. I share his view that deterrence remains the dominant feature of this environment, and it is likely to shape European security for years to come.
In the short term, the priority must be to prevent military incidents and to avoid any further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine into a direct NATO-Russia confrontation. To achieve this, reliable channels of communication between Russia and Europe are essential.
Looking further ahead, it will be important to think about a future European security order that includes Russia and rests on cooperative foundations. One practical way forward could be to compartmentalize issues of shared concern and interest – such as climate change, migration, or terrorism – from the broader geopolitical rivalry. This would allow both sides to engage constructively where their interests overlap and, over time, to begin the slow but necessary process of rebuilding trust.
At the same time, any such European security order will need to be understood in the context of a multipolar world. As Dr. Kortunov points out, the influence of major global players, especially China, will inevitably shape Europe’s security landscape. For this reason, European arrangements can no longer be designed as a closed Euro-Atlantic system; they must take into account the wider international balance of power that defines today’s multipolar reality.
Geneva, October 2025
[1] See: Kotrunov A. Beyond the Conflict in Ukraine: Towards a New Security Architecture” // Security Index Yearbook. Vol.1. URL: https://pircenter.org/en/editions/security-index-yearbook-chapter-15-russia-and-latin-america-new-perspectives-and-modalities-of-cooperation/
